Apparatus for refining crude hydrocarbons



March 24, 1925. 1,531,074

w. E. CHENOT APPARATUS FOR REFINING CRUDE HYDROCARBONS Filed Jan. 10, 1920 gwue'ntox PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. CHENOT, OF BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR REFINING CRUDE HYDROCABBONS.

Application filed January 10. 1920. Serial No. 350,654.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAME. CHENOT,

a citizen of the United States, residing at,

Belleville, in the county of St. Clair and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Refining Crude Hydrocarbons. of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to the art of refining crude hydrocarbons to secure such products as gasoline, naphtha, turpentine substitute, illuminating oils, substitute floor oils, intermediate oils, lubricating oils and the like, and the general object of the invention is to provide means for the refining of crude hydrocarbons which will eliminate the use of any chemicals whatsoever for treating the distilled hydrocarbons after they pass over from the distilling apparatus and which will produce products as clean, and in many cases cleaner, and better purified and refined than those roducts now obtained by treating the distil ate with sulphuric acid and alkali before redistilling theproducts.

A further object is to reduce the time required for production, thereby increasing the capacity of a refinery using my apparahis and methods.

A furtherobject is to provide means such that by one distillation I eliminate virtually all the im urities in the hydrocarbons and additional y conserve the light vapors usually lost while re-running, and which light vapors run as high as 5% of the total in some cases.

A further object is to provide'a still for this purpose which is of a very simple, yet effective, character, and so constructed as to refine and lpurify the crude hydrocarbons .by purely physical means, that is by the action of heat in combination with the action of gravity, and in this connection to prpvid'e a still wherein sustained heat is utillzed in combination with gravity to purify the oils during the course of refining.

And a further object is to provide a still in which the, hydrocarbons first rise in vapor form from the still body and are then held suspended in the form of vapor in a purifying chamber by heat arising from the still body, thus permitting the impurities and heavier hydrocarbons to settle back in the form of heavy vapor, or as a condensate, to the still body, where they are reva orized and arise again into the purifying c amber of the still, while the purified, lighter va ors pass onward and upward to a portion 0 the .vapor discharges where they are a ain condensed and returned to the body 0 the still to be revaporized, the clean light vapors passing onward to the condenser to be liquetied and used as a finished product without chemical treatment.

A further object. is to provide means whereby a plurality of finished products may be, secured in consecutive order from the still.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View, partly in elevation, of an apparatus for refining crude hydrocarbons constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View through the precipitating chamber just above the deflectors and showing the deflectors in plain view;

Referrin to the drawing, 10 designates the still bo y, which may be of any suitable size or capacity, and may be cylindrical in form, have a cheese box shape, or any other desired contour, and which is disposed over or upon a fire box 11. Extending upward from the still body at an desired point is a precipitating chamber, esignated 12, which may be cylindrical, square or any other form in cross section, but which has a capacity from one half of the capacity of the still to a capacity equal to that of the still and upward. Thus the precipitating chamber will in actual practice range in height from ten to forty feet, and the diameter of the precipitating chamber may be as much as one half that of the still body and up ward. In any event, this preci itating chamber has a capacity of one ha to several times the vapor capacity of the entire still when empty.

At its upper end, the precipitatin ber 12 i provided with an outwar ly, and preferably also upwardly, projecting, somewhat tapering, extension 13 which I call chamthe cracking connection, butwhich under' ordinary circumstances, is closed by means a valve 14. This is a preferable connection but is not absolutely nec ssary, as will hereafter ap ar. Also extending outward from the precipitating chamber, and also extending upward therefrom,.thatis upward and vapor discharge connection, branch, or pipe 15 is a pipe 16 which leads to any suitable condenser 17, illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 1. Disposed in the length of the pipe 16 adjacent to the upper. end of the vapor discharge extension 15 is a valve 18, illustrated as an ordinary rotatable valve, this valve being adapted to be operated by means of a rod 19 controlling the valve. When the valve is turned into one position, it closes the outlet through pipe 16, and when turned into the other position, it permits this outlet. Disposed between the cracking connection 13 and the vapor discharge connection or extension 15 is the thermometer 20,whereby the temperature of the vapors at the upper end of the precipitating chamber may e ascertained.

Extending from the base of the precipitating chamber adjacent the still body 10.

is a branch pipe or extension from the recipitating amber, designated 21. is

connection is used when it is desirable to produce cylinder oil or lubricating oil stocks from the residues after obtaining gasoline and illuminating oils. This connection 21 preferably extends upwards, though I do not wish to be limited to this as it might be extended horizontally. This connection may be closed by a-rotatable valve 22 constituting a closure, and above the extension or connection 21, and preferably disposed slightly below the middle of the precipitating chamber, is an upwardly and outwardly inclined connection 23 used when it is desired to produce illuminating oils. This connection is also closed by a rotatable valve 24 or equivalent means. \Vhile I have illustrated the illuminating oil connection 23 and the cylinder oil connection 21 as being disposed on the same side or in vertical relation to each other. yet it is obvious that one might be disposed at one point in the di ameter of the precipitating chamber and the other at another point in its diameter, and it is also to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the use of these connections either 15, 21 or 23 in an upwardly inclined position, as these might be disposed in a horizontal position, or substantially at right angles to the axis of the precipitating chamber.

Hingedly mounted upon the precipitatiiig chamber adjacent to its upper end are heat deflecting plates 25, which are hingcdly mounted, at 26, and which may be manipulated in any suitable manner to conserve the heat arising from the fire box or from the still body, is the precipitating chamher so as to mam; or has held the heat when they are adjusted in one position around the upper portion of the precii'ntuting chamber, or when they are adjusted in another posi tion to permit the free escape of heat, that is to permit the clouxnn of heat surrounding the precipitating chamber o rise freely and to become disseminated witl'iout exeit ing any undue heating action on the upper end of the precipitating chamber and vapor discharges 13 and l/Vhile i do not wish to be limited to any particular means for shifting the heat deflectors, nor to the par ticular construction of the heat deflectors,

'et I have illustrated for this purpose the eat deflecting plates as being supported each at its free end by means of a chain or wire connection 27 passin over a pulley 28 shown as attached to tie outlet of the extension 13 or 15, passing to any desired point, means being, of course, used to hold the chain, cord or wire at any desired and justed position to sustain the heat deflectors in any desired adjusted position.

It is obvious that I do not wish to be limited to any details of this character. It is obvious also that the heat deflectors might be operated independently of each other by separate opcratin means. Neither do I wish to be limits to any precise construc tion for the tire box. This iirc box may be closed or open, and the still body might be entirel disposed within the fire box or only partial y disptwed within the fire box. nor do I wish to be limited to any pariicnlar heating means for the still body.

In the operation of this still, the still body is filled four-fifths with oil through the main hole 29 and the valves or other closures 1 1, 22 and 24 are closed in the various extensions 13, 22 and 23 respectively. The valve 18 is left 0 on at this time. The heat is then started in the the box. The heat causes the vapor of the crude hydrocarbon to rise in the precipitating chamber, the lightest and most purified of the vapors rising the highest in the prccipitatin chamber, where they are held for sometime Ivy sustained heat. By this I mean that the heat arising in the precipitating chamber with the vapors from the still body causes a continuous and sustainlng heat within the precipitating cham her, and this continuous heat causes the hydrocarbons to be held and sustained in vapor form within the column or precipitatin chamber 12. During the time when the lig test and most purified vapors are sus tained within the up er portion of the pre cipitating chamber, t e heavier portions of these vapors and the foreign matter carried up by them fall back by gravity into the still body, together with such portions of the vapors as have condensed. In the still this matter is converted into lighter and cleaner vapors at a higher heat, and these vapors again rise in the precipitating chamber, and such portions as are not condensed and are sufliciently light and pure rise up to the level of the vapor delivery extension or pipe 15. It will be seen that by the laws of condensation and gravity, the li hter and heavier constituents separate, the ighter passing upward to the upper portion of. the 'preci itating chamber, and the heavier moving ownward, the condensates falling throughthe vapors in the precipitating chamber.

ucn portions of the vapors as are not condensed and are of sufficient lightness, as above stated, rise up to the level of the vapor delivery pipe, and some of these vapors enter the same and ass upward and onward toward the usua condenser 17. portion of the last named light vapors will condense in the vapor delivery pipe, showing they are not yet light and clean enough to pass over to the condenser, and they are in turn returned to the still body throu h the action of gravity because the vapor de ivery connection is disposed at an inclination to the horizontal. These returned condensed matters are reconverted into vapor and eventually these vapors become light enough to pass over through the vapor delivery ipe in the form of a light and clean pr not.

This recess of separation and reva orization he ein taking place I have foun' to be equal to several distillations ofthe old type. Such an action is accom anied with some cracking, and it is particu arlyimportant in,

that it entirely does away with the socalled puts or loss that is usually'encountered 1n the refinin Now whi e this process described above is being carried forward, those vapors which" .compare to the second andthird grade vapors, as they may be termed, are held back on the lower levels or strata of vapor in the precipitating chamber, while the lighter vapors. pass through the heavier vapors. The heavier vapors take up or gather a certain portion of the vapors passing'aupvqardly therethrough, namely the heavier portions which seek their level by affinity and gravity,

and as these gradually give'ofl heat as they increase in weight, they condense, and upon condensation return to the oils in the still body to be reconverted-into vapors and again returned to the precipitating chamber.

At the time the temperature at the top of the precipitating chamber reaches approximately 250 F. the oils obtained by the condensation of the vapors coming over through pipe 16 are closely watched to see that they show a crystal clearness, care being exer cised to follow the directions herein mentioned as to reducing the rate of rise in temperature upon it gradually descending scale, as explained. In ordinary practice, OllS coming over at about this heat generally However a industry, averaging about -5%.

assume a, light straw color,'and continue to grow, darker as the heat rises.

In my apparatus, the opposite phenomenon takes place. That is the products of mysun actually grow clearer in color as t he; '5;temperature rises, so clear that they mayjiitruly beconsidered crystal clear. The tern rature is regulated by so controlling the? at- .ing means that the rise in temperatlite is ing chamber, the hydrocarbons are held in this chamber in vaporized form, thus-tacit, itating the thorough separation of the lighter and cleaner constituents from the heavier and more impure constituents of the hydro carbon chainyfirst by the continuousfand sustained heat, and second by avity,w'hich causesthe heavier and less reiiied products to return a ain and again to the hot oils in the still until, thoroughly enough retined'and lightened, they pass up through the "vapor discharge pipe at the to of the chamber or pass throng one of e vapor discharge pipes at the side of this purifying chamber. In these dischar e pipes there is againan automatic "and nal separation test-before the izvapors passto their-pro er condenser tori-the product being produced.

v3 ."1he vapor discharge pipes 2 1 and :23,operate on the same principle as thedischar e pipe 15, but aredisposed on lower leves than this vapor discharge pipe 15, so as to conduct away heavier vapors to produce less refined or heavier products. These vapor discharge pipes 21 and 23am also to'be connecgled to suitable condensers when they are use i It is to be understood that the fouroutlets by stop cocks or other forms-of. valves on these discharges, and the roduct' passes out through the vapor disc arge ipe. 15. The vapors in this case go through, t e operation as previously described, but when making a blended gasoline consisting ofthe distillate (straight run gasoline) and a cracked product, then I open the cracking connection 13 and close the vapor discharge connection 15 upon reaching the end point permitted under the market specifications for which the motor fuel is being made, and

which will be from 350 F. and upward. This will cause the vapors passing over after the specific temperature is reached to pass out through the cracking connection to a suitable cracking device, wherein are cracked such portions of the crude hydrocarbons that it is desired to use in a blended motor fuel or l'ilendcd gasoline.

However, when producing illuminating oils after'taking off the product-suitable for straight run gasoline, then upon reaching the end point permitted for gasoline under the particular market specifications for which it is being made, I close the vapor discharge connection 15 and open the vapor outlet 23 and proceed to convert the remaining and suitable portions of the crude hydrocarbon into illuminating oil, also running at a slowly rising temperature not to exceed 2 per minute until the readings in the stream show that I have gone deeply enough into the residue for this product. I then close the illuminating oil connection or branch 23 and open the cylinder or'lubricating oil connection 21 and run the lubricating oils from the last of the residues. When running with asphaltum base oils, the residues, after taking oil the illuminating oils, will preferably be utilized as fuel oils, or they may be sold for that purpose.

As previously stated herein each of the connections or outlets 13, 15, 21 and 23 are connect-ed up by piping to a suitable condenser, and the oil conveyed from the condenser to a container, where the asoline or the illuminating oils are allowed to settle out, and then the oils may be drawn oil by means of a siphon or filtered. This procedure makes a water white illuminating oil. It is to be understood that the first finished .roduct obtained by this apparatus and by t e method which I have describedwould be motor fuel oils such as gasoline, and the next product would be oil such as naptha, the next a substitute for turpentine, and the next would be illuminating oils, ex cept where it was desired to specialize and make only two or three of these species, such as gasoline, naptha and illuminating oils. Also when the crude oils areof a suit- -able base, I can produce lubricating oils and waxes. For this purpose I introduce steam into the still body and into the crude oils.

I also find by using steam in; the entire operation of my apparatus and for the production,of all the products that I obtain better results, I have found that the use of steam by being introducedinto the body of the crude oils results in a sweeter product being produced; also that it causes much more rapid vaporization, that it tends to keep the hottest part of the still body cleaner; that it prevents carbouization in the still and it will produce a motor fuel that will not carbonize in use. When steam is used, which I prefer to do at all times, I rovlde a water tank 30 having an outlet gipe 31 which extends down and extends along the top of the still body one or more times, then extends into the body of the still and extends along the top of the still one or more times, being deflected to avoid the manhole 29, soas to leave this manhole open, and then the pipe extends downward to the bottom of the still and extends one or more times across lengthwise of the 'bottom'of the still and eventually extends parallel with and adjacent to the bottom oi the still, as at 32. This section of the pipe is formed with slits or openings discharging toward the bottom of the still in such a way that the steam generated withinthe length of the pipe is ejected through the openin s so as to keep clean that part of the still ody over the hottest part of the fire. The steam in addition causes the oils to volatilize or vaporize more rapidly and preserves a sweet odor and prevents scorching of the heats and is converted into steam, and as it flows onward it becomes superheated to the same temperature as the oils into which it discharges by the pressure it has generated through the length or coil of pipe.

I may operate this still either as an intermittent still or as a continuous still. Where the still is intended to be used as an intermittent still, it is filled with oils to the proper height by means of the manhole. Then the manhole is closed and heat applied. When desired to use as a continuous still, however, I then supply the oils and preheat them by means of a coil of pipe 34 which is extended around the purifying chamber on the outside thereof, and then extends into the top of the still body and discharges the oil in sprays laterally against the sides of the still body. A deflection is put into the pipe 34 within the still body so as to avoid closing of the manhole, or it may be capped just short of the manhole. A gooseneck 35 is also used, which extends upward from the bottom of the still and acts to keep the oils of a uniform depth and keep an even heat. The residues flowing out of thisgooseneck by gravity will be conducted oil, either into an adjoining still equipped like the one herein described, with a lower precipitating chamber, run at a higher temperature so as to produce the next series of product, and this may be connected in like manner to a third, which in turn is run at a higher heat to produce the next product in the series, having, of course, a lower precipitating chamber than the last, and so on. each outlet being connected with piping to its own condenser, and the condenser to a container wherein the product may settle out and then be filtered if desired. otherwise the products or residues are handled as is found best.

When this still is run continuously for the production of gasoline. for instance. then the temperature in the upper portion of the purifying chamber is kept as high as the market specifications for \Vlllt h the gasoline is being made will permit. and when run for the purpose of producing illuminating oils. then it is kept at the degree of temperature that will bring over or take off all that it is desired to be incorporated into illuminating oils. This rule applies whether the still be run as a single unit or whether the stills are run in sets of two. three or more. Each still continuously maintains the temperature required for each particular product.

It will be seen that the broad idea of my invention is that of purifying hydrocarbons or refining hydrocarbons in such a way that all impurlties are removed while in vapor form in a chamber directly over the still body, which chamber is so arranged that the condensates are returned by gravity directly to the body of hot oils.

I claim 1. An apparatus for refining crude hydrocarbon oils comprising a still body to contain the crude oil and having means for heating it, the body having an upwardly extending purifying chamber rising vertically therefrom and o ening directly into the still body. the puri ying chamber being practically of uniform diameter from its top to its bottom and having its interior entirely unobstructed, said chamber having a capacity not less than one-half that of the body and having a plurality of upwardly and outwardly disposed extensions. each disposed at different heights. each extension being inclined to the horizontal whereby to cause each extension to act in part as a condenser.

2. An apparatus for refining crude hydrocarbon oils comprising a still body, means for heating the body. the body being provided with an upwardly extending purifying chamber opening directly into the top of the body. the chamber having a diameter less than the area of the still body and having a capacity from onehalf to several times the total capacity of the still body. said chamber being of uniform diameter from its to to its bottom and entirely unobstructed in its interior. the chamber at its u per end having outlet extensions upward y and outwardly inclined whereby to cause said extensions to act as partial conside walls of the chamber at different levels being provided with outlets upwardly and outwardly inclined whereby to act as partial condensers and adapted to be connected to condensers. all of said outlets having means controlling the passage of Vapor there through.

3. .\n apparatus for refining crude hydrocarbon oils having a still body to contain the crude oil. means for heating the still body. a purifying chamber rising vertically from the still body and opening thereinto at its lower end and having an utlet. and heat deflectors exterior to and mounted upon and surrounding the upper end of the chamber and hinged thereto whereby the heat defiectms may be shifted into a downwardly and outwardly extending position to thereby retain the heat around the exterior upper portion of the chamber or whereby they may be shifted to an upwardly and outwardly extended position to permit the free diffusion of the heat from around said chamber while deflecting the heat from the upper extensions.

4. An apparatus for refining crude hydro carbon oils comprising a still body having a purifying chamber rising therefrom and receiviiig vapor from the still body. the chamber being relatively tall. having oneha lf to several times the vapor capacity of the still body. and having a diameter con-- siderably less than the area of the still body. said purifying chainbe rbeing of practically uniform diameter from its lower to its upper end and having its interior entirely unobstructed. an outlet connection extending upward and outward from the upper end of the chamber and adapted to discharge into a condenser and having a valve. an outlet connection adapted to be connected to a cracking apparatus and. extending upward and outward from the upper end of the chamber and having a valve. an upwardly and outwardly extending connection lea ing from an intermediate portion of the still body and adapted to be connected to a condenser and having a valve. the upward and outward inclination of said outlet connections causing them to act as partial condensers and permit the return of condensate into said chamber, and adjustable means for re.- taining heat around the exterior upper portion of the chamber or permitting the heat to readily diffuse to thereby control or a r condensation in the upper portion of the chamber.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

WILLIAM E. CHENOT. 

